English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
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All 27,237 words
454 words
torso
C2
/ˈtɔrsoʊ/
the central part of the human body, excluding the head, neck, and limbs
bonnet
C2
/ˈbɑnɪt/
to dress in a bonnet
puberty
C2
/ˈpjuː.bɚ.ti/
the developmental stage in which hormonal changes make the body sexually mature and capable of reproduction
frontal
B2
/ˈfɹʌn.tl̩/
belonging to the front part
glacier
C1
/ˈɡleɪ.ʃɚ/
A large body of ice which flows under its own mass, usually downhill.
incision
C1
/ɪnˈsɪʒən/
A cut made into the body, especially by a surgeon during an operation.
gall
B1
/ɡɔːl/
Rude boldness; nerve; cheek.
disable
B1
/dɪsˈeɪbəl/
To turn off a feature or stop a device from working.
snore
B2
/snoɹ/
To breathe noisily through your nose and mouth while you are asleep.
kale
C2
/kæɪl/
a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
pelvis
C2
/ˈpɛlvɪs/
The large compound bone structure at the base of the spine that supports the legs in hominids.
ointment
B2
/ˈɔɪn(t)m(ə)nt/
A thick, smooth cream rubbed on the skin to treat or soothe it.
wasp
B2
/wɑsp/
A flying insect with a thin black-and-yellow body that can give a painful sting.
graft
C1
/ɡɹæft/
To join part of one plant onto another so they grow together as one.
cortex
B2
/ˈkɔrtɛks/
the outer layer of an organ or body structure, especially the outer part of the brain
lagoon
C2
/ləˈguːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
bloodstream
B2
/ˈblʌdˌstriːm/
The blood as it flows around the body.
hereditary
C1
/həˈɹɛdɪˌtɛɹi/
Of a title, honor or right: legally granted to somebody's descendant after that person's death.
groin
C2
/ɡrɔɪn/
the crease and surrounding region where the lower abdomen meets the inner thigh
recipient
C1
/ɹəˈsɪp.i.ənt/
A person who receives something.
pulmonary
C1
/ˈpʊlməneri/
relating to, affecting, or occurring in the lungs
knuckle
C2
/ˈnʌkəl/
one of the joints of a finger, especially when the hand is closed
stimulation
B2
/ˈstɪm.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
The act of encouraging activity, interest, or growth.
aorta
C2
/eɪˈɔr.tə/
the body's main artery, carrying oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart into the systemic circulation
hydraulic
B2
/haɪˈdɹɔːlɪk/
of or relating to the study of hydraulics
os
C2
/ɑs/
a bone, especially when identified by a Latin anatomical name
snout
C2
/snaʊt/
The long, projecting nose, mouth, and jaw of a beast, as of pigs.
armpit
C2
/ˈɑːrm.pɪt/
the hollow beneath the shoulder where the arm joins the body
diaphragm
C1
/ˈdaɪəˌfɹæm/
the sheet of muscle below the lungs that contracts and relaxes during breathing
carnal
C2
/ˈkɑɹnəl/
of or relating to the body or flesh
femur
C2
/ˈfiːmɚ/
the thighbone; the long bone between the hip and knee in a vertebrate
excrement
C2
/ˈɛkskɹəmənt/
waste matter (as urine or sweat but especially feces) discharged from the body
intestine
B2
/ɪnˈtestɪn/
the long digestive tube between the stomach and anus, especially either its small or large section
nutritious
B1
/nuːˈtɹɪʃəs/
Full of the substances that the body needs to stay healthy.
feverish
C2
/ˈfi.vɚ.ɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
dominance
C1
/ˈdɑmɪnəns/
The state of having more power, influence, or success than others.
vascular
C2
/ˈvæskjəlɚ/
relating to, containing, or consisting of vessels that carry blood, lymph, sap, or other fluid in an organism
gout
C2
/ɡaʊt/
A painful disease that swells the joints, especially the big toe, caused by too much uric acid in the body.
rump
C2
/ˈɹʌmp/
the hindquarters of an animal, or informally the buttocks of a person
forearm
B2
/ˈfɔɹˌɑɹm/
the part of the arm between the elbow and the wrist
gastric
C1
/ˈɡæstrɪk/
relating to the stomach, especially its structure, secretions, or disorders
jugular
C1
/ˈdʒʌɡjəlɚ/
one of the large veins in the neck that carry blood from the head back toward the heart
equilibrium
C2
/ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriːəm/
A state of balance in which opposing forces or influences cancel each other out.
rhinoceros
B2
/ɹaɪˈnɑ.sə.ɹəs/
A large, heavy African or Asian animal with thick grey skin and one or two horns on its nose.
cervical
C1
/ˈsɝvɪkəl/
relating to the neck or to the neck-like part of an organ
cranial
C2
/ˈkɹeɪ.ni.əl/
of or relating to the cranium which encloses the brain
crease
B2
/ˈkriːs/
A line or fold made in cloth, paper, or skin by pressing or folding.
rectum
C2
/ˈrɛktəm/
the final section of the large intestine, between the colon and the anal canal, where feces are held before elimination
legislative
B2
/ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ɪˌsleɪ.tɪv/
Relating to making laws or to the body that makes them.
mutilation
C2
/ˌmjuːtəˈleɪʃən/
The act of mutilating or the state of being mutilated.
cartilage
C1
/ˈkɑɹ.təl.ɪd͡ʒ/
firm, flexible connective tissue found in joints and in structures such as the nose and outer ear
intestinal
C1
/ɪnˈtɛs.tɪ.nəl/
relating to, occurring in, or affecting the intestines
genital
C1
/ˈdʒɛn.ɪ.təl/
of or relating to the external reproductive or sexual organs
dimple
B2
/ˈdɪm.pəl/
a small natural hollow in the cheek or chin, especially one visible when a person smiles
entrails
C2
/ˈɛn.tɹeɪlz/
internal organs collectively (especially those in the abdominal cavity)
sternum
B2
/ˈstɝnəm/
the flat bone at the front of the chest to which the ribs or their cartilages attach; the breastbone
insurrection
C2
/ˌɪnsɝˈɛkʃən/
The action of part or all of a national population violently rising up against the government or other authority; (countable) an instance of this; a revolt, an uprising; specifically, one that is at an initial stage or limited in nature.
retina
B2
/ˈɹɛt.ə.nə/
The light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye that sends images to the brain.
tibia
C2
/ˈtɪbiə/
the larger, inner bone of the lower leg between the knee and ankle; the shinbone
reformation
B2
/ˌɹɛfɚˈmeɪʃən/
An improvement (or an intended improvement) in the existing form or condition of institutions or practices, etc.; intended to make a striking change for the better in social, political or religious affairs or in the conduct of persons or operation of organizations.
rudimentary
C1
/ˌɹuːdɪˈmɛntəɹi/
Basic; involving only the simplest or most essential parts.
lumbar
C2
/ˈlʌmbɑɹ/
relating to the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis
clavicle
C2
/ˈklævɪkəl/
the collarbone, a curved bone joining the breastbone to the shoulder blade
cranium
C2
/ˈkɹeɪ.ni.əm/
the part of the skull that encloses the brain
eyelid
B2
/ˈaɪ.lɪd/
The piece of skin that moves down to cover and open the eye.
tendon
C2
/ˈtɛndən/
a strong band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone and transmits the muscle's force
esophagus
C2
/ɪˈsɑfəɡəs/
the muscular tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach
clammy
C1
/ˈklæmi/
Unpleasantly cold and damp, often describing skin.
windpipe
C2
/ˈwɪnd.paɪp/
the tube strengthened by rings of cartilage that carries inhaled air from the larynx toward the lungs; the trachea
sill
C2
/sɪl/
A breast wall; window breast; horizontal brink which forms the base of a window.
skeletal
C1
/ˈskɛlətəl/
relating to, forming, or attached to a skeleton
sphincter
C2
/ˈsfɪŋktɚ/
anatomy: a ring of muscle that contracts to narrow or close a bodily opening or passage
schooner
C2
/skuːnə(ɹ)/
A sailing ship with two or more masts, all with fore-and-aft sails; if two masted, having a foremast and a mainmast.
ejaculate
C2
/iˈdʒæk.jəˌleɪt/
to expel semen from the reproductive tract, typically during orgasm
cornea
B2
/ˈkɔːrniə/
the transparent curved layer at the front of the eye that covers the iris and pupil and helps focus light
occipital
C2
/ɑkˈsɪp.ət.l̩/
relating to or located at the back of the head, especially the occipital bone or lobe
parietal
C2
/pəˈraɪ.ə.təl/
relating to either of the two bones forming the upper sides and roof of the skull
ligament
C2
/ˈlɪɡəmənt/
a strong band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or supports an organ in the body
sedition
C2
/səˈdɪʃən/
Organized incitement of rebellion or civil disorder against authority or the state, usually by speech or writing.
molar
C1
/ˈmoʊlər/
one of the broad, flat teeth at the back of the mouth, used for grinding food
headlong
C2
/ˈhɛd.lɔŋ/
with the head foremost
buttock
C1
/ˈbʌtək/
either of the two rounded fleshy parts at the back of the pelvis, formed chiefly by the gluteal muscles
gullet
C2
/ˈɡʌl.ət/
the throat or esophagus, especially considered as the passage through which food is swallowed
horizontally
C2
/ˌhɔrɪˈzɑːntəli/
in a horizontal direction
teat
C2
/tiːt/
the projecting part of a mammary gland through which milk is drawn by a young mammal
eardrum
C2
/ˈiɚˌdɹʌm/
the membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound
freckle
C2
/ˈfrekəl/
a small, flat, pale-brown or reddish spot of pigment on the skin, often made darker by sunlight
estuary
C2
/ˈɛst͡ʃuˌɛɹi/
A coastal water body where ocean tides and river water merge, resulting in a brackish water zone.
adrenal
C2
/əˈdriːnəl/
relating to the adrenal glands or the hormones they secrete
friendless
C2
/ˈfrɛndləs/
Without friends (without a friend).
tumbler
C1
/ˈtʌmblɚ/
One who tumbles; one who plays tricks by various motions of the body.
septum
C1
/ˈseptəm/
a wall or partition separating two cavities or regions in an animal or plant body
ocular
C2
/ˈɑkjəlɚ/
relating to the eye or eyesight
phallus
C2
/ˈfæl.əs/
formal, anatomical, or anthropological: the penis, especially when erect
ovary
C2
/ˈoʊvəɹi/
(vertebrates) one of usually two organs that produce ova and secrete estrogen and progesterone
hippocampus
C2
/ˌhɪpoʊˈkæmpəs/
a curved structure deep in each temporal lobe of the brain that is central to memory, learning, and spatial navigation